Cleopatra-Faustus_Open_U

Assignment 1 PART A What do the representations of Cleopatra in Film and on Television (as shown on the DVD Video “Cleopatra”) tell us about how her reputation changed over time' Discuss with reference to two or three representations. The two representations of Cleopatra, I will be using are the Film Cleopatra 20th Century Fox 1963 and the TV Series ROME by HBO in 1990. (DVD Video AA100) This part of assignment brought back memories and thoughts of my early years where the stars of the film and TV industry were larger than life. Remembering, as a 12 year boy, seeing the 1963 epic the whole aspect of glamour and the portrayal of Queen Cleopatra by Elizabeth Taylor (especially the bath scene) was a part of my sexual awakening. However, the voyeurism, spectacle and grandeur of the scenes was still part of the culture of the time and showed women as becoming more independent, but still culturally dominated by men. The scene where Cleopatra commands Anthony to kneel broke through that preconceived idea, and the portrayal of Anthony later in the film as he left his command to follow Cleopatra was also indicative of a change in culture, and political awareness. The statement “men worked/fought and women stayed home” (Answers.com) had changed. Here was a new image, of a powerful women that knew her own mind and had men running after her, but it also helped that scene that most Roman historians depicted Anthony as besotted, and was part of the Ancient Roman view of Cleopatra at the time. All in all the 1963 version of the film though reflecting the independence of women, it was still dependent on the image. The clothing and make up of Elizabeth Taylor fed that exotic look that women could aspire to but may not achieve, but left a lasting iconic impression. The front cover of the OU publication Reputations (OU AA100 Book 1 2008) showing just the made up eyes of Taylor for many, including me, was instantly recognisable, and was commented on as such in our tutorial discussion. (Student comment Tutorial 9 Feb 2013) Contrast that film image and reputation with the HBO TV series Rome. The portrayal of Cleopatra in this shows a marked change that does reflect the naughty nineties. She is now portrayed as a powerful ruler who will use her body and her mind to get her own way. Though this reflects the liberation of women, it also reflects the change in society to TV sexual images and realism. This not only can be summed up in the Cleopatra role but is also reflected within the next scene shown, with the image of an infantile erection as Caesars son is held up to the troops, one of which is the “actual father”. By bringing more realism, this portrayal has diluted the mystique and the glamour of the role and reflects social trends to debase the sexual act to a means to an end. It certainly does not help this portrayal to reach iconic status, and the reputation of Cleopatra, as the last pharaoh in ancient times, who is still one of the most famous women in history, in my view suffers. END Word Count Text 500 In text references 35 PART B Read the following passage from Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Discuss how the passage to contributes to the portrayal of Faustus as a tragic hero, paying particular attention to Marlowe’s use of language. Having never studied Marlowe’s Dr Faustus before I felt a bit overwhelmed by the project, however, following the lecture by Anita Pacheco at the recent day school (OU Manchester March 2 2013) I felt that her enthusiasm for the play and the explanation of the scenes helped with my preparation for this part of the assignment. At first, I felt that I should ask the question what is a tragic hero' I realised in reading about Marlowe, and his scholarship to Cambridge (O Connor The A text pg 119) Marlowe would have had a through grounding in classical Greek and Latin and using that knowledge “Marlowe has drawn on the conventions of classical Greek tragedy, many of which dictate the nature of the hero or heroine. In ancient times, a hero achieved heroic status not because of the acts he performed in life. The hero should have a socially elevated status and suffer a reversal of fortune in which he experiences great suffering. This is all certainly true of Faustus, who is highly regarded as both a lecturer at the University of Wittenberg, and an accomplished scholar. During his life, he performs extraordinary feats, Even by modern standards, the notion of necromancy is disturbing; for a contemporary Elizabethan audience, for whom religion permeated all aspects of life, it would have been horrible”(Finn01 Is Faustus a tragic Hero' Website March 2012) Marlowe draws a picture for the audience using Faustus words as Helen arrives. The speech is a masterful use of prose that creates an image in the audience mind and has become part of language today “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships” ( Vs 91 Assignment booklet pg 19), but then as usual Faustus is all talk. Helen of Troy is not there: Faustus makes love to a fantasy. “Even within his fantasies, Faustus reveals his failure. He fantasizes about being Paris, battling for Helen: "And I will combat with weak Menelaus, / And wear thy colours on my plumed crest. / And then return to Helen for a kiss" (5.1.106-7). The language is exciting and would again raise the audience expectations that the hero would get the prize, but Faustus has altered the story. Paris did indeed fight Menelaus, but the Greek king was far from "weak." Only the intervention of the gods saved Paris. Faustus imagines himself as a Greek hero. His talk of wearing Helen's colors on his crest was a knightly tradition”. (jennifer l #306395Mar 06, 2013 Webpage Gradesaver) That is what makes Faustus so tragic; he is so full of good intentions but is already doomed. Marlowe’s use of language in this last scene, builds a tension in the audience, part of them would want him to be saved and “get the girl” but Marlowe in the words “her lips suck forth my soul” ( Vs 94 Assignment booklet pg 19) has already told them that he is doomed. Word Count 500 In text references 38 TOTAL 6 PAGES 1076 WORDS INCLUDING TITLES AND IN TEXT REFS. Bibliography on next page BIBLOGRAPHY FOR ASSIGNMENT 1 Cleopatra DVD Video AA100 The Arts Past and Present-Book 1 Reputations DVD00520 2008 plus Narrative Cover IMAGE The Open University (2008) AA100 Book 1 Reputations The Open University Milton Keynes www.Answers.com Dr Faustus The Open University (2012) AA100 Assignment Booklet February 2013. "“Is Faustus a Tragic Hero, ” Discuss." StudyMode.com. 03 2012. 03 2012 . O’Connor (2008) Dr Faustus The A text Pearson /Longman press http://www.gradesaver.com answer to question on AA100 by Jennifer 1 306395 Lecture at Open University Day School March 2 2013 by Anita Pacheco.